A new season ushering us to rebirth and hope restored. Raindrops, for without the rain there would be no blooms.

An afternoon with my daughter at the local bulb farm where pansies and violas dwell beside broccoli and lettuce starts - and the star of the show: the lovely daffodils. (Sadly I cannot bring the daffodils indoors due to allergy issues but I was happy to purchase a bouquet for a friend. I did, however, bring home a couple violas and some broccoli starts.) A pair of ducks visiting from across the road. I love how they travel side by side, always together, always chattering. The first baby calf of the spring season that I saw today. Mama was dutifully licking her little one as they stood side by side - oh the sweetness!

Fresh creamy white throw pillows to brighten the living room without pollen : )Despite today's rain in the Pacific Northwest today, spring can dwell in my heart all year long.

What are you thankful for?

May your week be filled with wonder, laced with peace and bursting with love...

(Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good: his love endures forever. Psalm 118:1)﻿

Well hello friends...I have missed you! I had no plans to be away for so long but sometimes life happens and you just have to go with it. After I left you last we celebrated Thanksgiving with family and fell headlong into crafting/selling on our new Etsy site. There was a learning curve and what was more overwhelming work in the beginning has settled in to a nice pace and we are ready to move forward. Christmas season turned out not so fun when both Mr. Husband and I came down with the flu (the flat on your back, fever, chills, (nausea and vomiting added for me...), aches sickness that caused us to miss celebrations on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. We were actually very sick for two weeks and unwell for a few weeks. It sets you back but, in conjunction with the New Year, causes you to take stock of life once again. The internal bruising (from life situations beyond my control), that happened in the Fall, began to show the black and blue color and pain that ensues. And that kind of bruising takes time to heal. No more stuffing it away, no more covering with a bandage. Time for healing. Time to let God move and me to step back. So step back is what I have done. And truthfully, with the volatile election season, it was the perfect time in more ways than one. I scaled back on Facebook and took almost the entire month away in February. It was wonderful I must say. I also have left this space blank as well. I have missed it, missed you all, but it was necessary. It was a bit strange to step away from here when I had a new, beautiful (thank you Linda) space to work in and a couple of what could have been exciting opportunities to grow the space. But sometimes more is not more. For me, right now, less has been more. A slower pace of life, a more real conversation with God, a time of healing. I feel so much more free, that is what happens when the pain recedes and love fills it up. I feel so much more creative in so many areas. DIY makeovers have happened again. Cooking (that had fallen back into unhealthy habits) is more fun and healthful. Words are once again dancing in my head.In the midst of this time of stepping back my desktop computer began to fail and the search for something new began. After lots of searching my Dad helped me find just the perfect fit for me and I am up and running with documents, pictures and more transferred and or stored away. There is still more to learn but I have the basics down and it feels good. So...I hope to start visiting this space, as well as yours, more often. I hope life for you all has been good whether you are in a season of less or more and that you are allowing God to walk you through it. Wishing you abundant joy ,bountiful blessings and overflowing hope as the new season of Spring comes calling. Happy March and happy day to you my friends!

Thank you Veterans.

Thank you for your service.

Thank you for keeping our country safe.

Thank you for your sacrifice - physically and emotionally.

Thank you families who stand beside those who have served, who serve us now.

God bless them all.

The above picture was taken many years ago when my Great Uncle Les was up visiting from New Mexico. Somehow someone (most likely my mom's doing-thanks mom!) convinced these four (representing the Navy, Air Force and Army) to march in our local summer Bear Festival parade together - such a special memory. My Dad is on the left (with my sister in front - yes, that blonde haired, blue eyed cutie!), my Uncle Barry with his daughter Bridget (who grew up in Germany while my Uncle served many years there and now Shannon, his younger dsughter, is the wife of a career military man herself. Thank you for your continued service Jameel.) Next to my Uncle Barry is my Great Uncle Les with his Granddaughter, and to the far right my Grandpa Ray with my cousin Cheri.

This week I am thankful for:

A soft, warm blanket keeping me cozy while the rains pour and the winds blow. A new creative project keeping hands and mind busy and collaborating with Mr. Husband is a welcome bonus!

A birthday celebration for my Mom (grateful for her too!) with lots of laughter and love. Neighbors that we know well and those we have yet to meet waving as they pass by - a simple yet meaningful act of kindness. First Responders. Living in a rural area it is just a fact that an ambulance will take a little while to get there so the trained First Responders often arrive quickly and are able to perform potential life saving measures.

The warm cuddle of a visiting grand-dog - what an example of unconditional love those pooches are!

People giving (what may seem like) small amounts that pool together to meet great needs. The hands and feet of Jesus in action. The text message from Mr. Husband that his co-worker sent us some (homemade and delicious) egg rolls to go with tonight's dinner. I just happen to have the ingredients for some Pad Thai so we will be eating very well this Friday night!My favorite color - October...

What are you thankful for?

May your weekend be filled with wonder, laced with peace and bursting with love...

(Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good: his love endures forever. Psalm 118:1)﻿

Several weeks ago our (adult) daughter went on a trip that was far from her usual comfort zone and involved a crazy airplane flight and zip lining. I was happy she was able to go and knew she would have a good time. But when the day of her flight arrived I had a brief bout of the what if's...When our daughter was somewhere around 6th grade (oh, those middle school years...) she anxiously and excitedly packed her bags for her first week long trip away from home to church camp. I spent the days leading up to the trip letting her know how much fun she would have, reminding her of all the friends she had going with her, telling her the time would go quickly etc. The morning she was to depart I dropped her (and the massive amounts of stuff she packed) off at the Pastor's house, prayed they would watch over her and drove away. That is when the what if's started in. What if she forgot to pack something important? What if she got scared? Sick? Homesick? Left out? You get the picture. I prayed but I also fretted. I tried to trust but often fell short.A couple days in, as I wondered how she was doing, they returned. What if....Wait! What if? What if this camp experience is a GOOD thing for her. What if her faith expands? What if she makes new friends? What if she learns to share more of herself? What if tries new things and likes them? What if she becomes more independent? What if...What if can be so negative. But it can also be SO positive! A week (actually 5 days) later, I picked her up at the same spot where I had dropped her off. She was obviously exhausted but smiling from ear to ear, hugging all her friends and giggling as they continued to relive the memories they had just made. She was fine. More than fine. She didn't forget to pack anything important but even if she had they all shared. There were times she was unsure or maybe even scared but she learned to work through it. She grew in her faith. She got closer to her church friends. She made new friends. Lots of them. In fact, she made friends that she STILL keeps in contact with. (Yep, she is a forever friend kind of girl. A few weeks of Driver's Ed and another batch of we will never forget you friends. A 3 month temporary job and another lifelong friend made.) Camp provided her lots of learning opportunities. It provided me with the same. I get that life happens and not everything is going to go smoothly. Really, I KNOW this. I am living this. But it also reminded me not to borrow tomorrow's troubles today. It reminded me to let go and let God. It reminded me to trust. To lean in to the faith that sustains me. So, when the what if's tried to seep into my thoughts as she waited for her plane to leave, I remembered camp. I prayed. I let go. Several days later she arrived home safely. They had a good time, she loved the zip lining and came through all the adventures just fine. It was yet another, "I can do this" learning time for her and, once again, for me.

(The vivid blues and foamy bright whites of the ocean, the dark gray of the grainy sand, the sweet little shore birds running back and forth with the rhythm of the waves, the rugged rocks of the jetty, and the chattering seagulls against the crystal clear sky- images I will hold in my head and heart as the seasons change.)

This week I am thankful for:

Our washer and dryer. They are nothing fancy, just a couple of average white machines, but oh do they make life easier. I often forget how life would be without such conveniences and the time I would need to spend without them. Sun dried laundry. For as much as I am thankful for said washer and dryer, I do like hanging clothes on the line to dry (partially and then I toss into the dryer for the final minutes to soften them up). I love the way they smell so fresh and the electricity that is saved as well.

An impromptu midweek trip to the beach. It was one of those days where the sky was SO blue, the sun SO bright and the WIND noticeably absent. It was a great time of gathering walking at the oceans edge, gathering a few treasures, relaxing and then a late lunch/early dinner out. Savoring the last of our summer days. A much needed visit with a good friend with wonderful heart to heart conversation.

Finding the active wear pants that have been absent from the store back in stock for the fall. I already own one pair and wear them a lot. (Now they just need to get MY size back in stock.) Seasoned moms supporting the newbies, gently guiding. It really does take a village. Learning new things. We are never too old. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise : )The early morning chill in the air and the warm afternoons. If our local weather stations are correct, it seems a change is coming where rain showers will return as early as tomorrow. The past few weeks have been just lovely September weather and I am not sure I want to give it up. So, I will be grateful for every last moment...

What are you thankful for?

May your weekend be filled with wonder, laced with peace and bursting with love...

(Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good: his love endures forever. Psalm 118:1)﻿

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Hello

Welcome! My name is Mindy. I live in the rural Pacific Northwest where we celebrate life in the country. I dip my toes in writing, decorating, DIY, baking, classic literature, gardening and photography. My priorities are faith and family followed by friends and fun. I strive to find beauty in the ordinary and blessing in the extraordinary.

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